Last September, Valencia’s Roig Arena was inaugurated with a tribute to Nino Bravo and the figure who left the industry speechless: 20,000 seats with maximum capacity in concert mode. Round, thoughtful, symbolic… and provocative too.
Now, three months later, Madrid President Isabel Díaz Ayuso has launched a counterattack with a plan to expand the Palacio de los Deportes (renamed Movistar Arena): 20,008 places in total. Eight additional seats. verbatim.
What place do international artists prefer?
The answer is not (only) in ability. Although Madrid is trying to regain the advantage in numbers, the technicians and artists have already spoken: the Roig Arena won what could not be seen from the stalls. We’re talking about Audio designed from the ground upFunctional dressing rooms, understage loading and unloading areas and over a thousand square meters of LED screens set the scene for each show.
A place designed for music
- Custom design By HOK and ERRE, no sporting heritage.
- Functional behind the scenes: Offices, dining room and dressing rooms next to the stage.
- Outstanding acoustics: High volume sound without leakage.
- Additional hall: 2,000 additional people for intimate shows.
a result? 76 concert dates were scheduled and 27 of them were sold out. Some insiders are already calling it the “Madison of Valencia.”
The truth that unleashes war: eight seats
The new Movistar Arena self-protection plan will allow capacity to increase to 20,008 sitespassing the Valencian giant with a sigh. It is a symbolic maneuver more than a functional one, but it has a political and emotional charge.
Ayuso defended expansion as a major movement for Attracting NBA games and promoting Eurobasket 2029. However, in basketball mode, the Roig Arena continues to lead: 15,600 seats compared to 15,000 in Madrid.
Economic impact: record numbers
- Ruig Stadium: Attendance is expected to exceed one million participants in its first year.
- Movistar Arena: Achieving €577 million in 2024 (1% of regional GDP).
- investment: 400 million euros paid personally by Juan Roig.
Concerts or competitions?
The fight between Ayuso and Roig is more than just entertainment. It is a dispute over status, the attraction of music tourism and the definition of cultural capital in the new map of live music.
The paradox is presented: Madrid wants the numerical throne, but Valencia already has the hearts of the artists. In that battle, eight seats could mean a whole world.